INTERFERENCE RULES
6. INTERFERENCE RULES
1. BASIC RULE
a. The surfer deemed to have the initial inside
position for a wave, has unconditional
right-of-way for the entire duration of that
ride. Interference will be called if, during
that ride, a majority of judges feel that a
fellow competitor has hindered the scoring
potential of that surfer deemed to have
right-of-way for the wave.
b. Anyone who stands up in front of a surfer with right-of-way in non priority one-on-one
heats has the chance to ride or kick out of the wave without being called interference,
unless they hinder the scoring potential of the surfer with right-of-way by any means. This
includes excessive hassling, leg rope pulling or breaking down a section.
c. Anyone riding a wave in priority one-on-one heats has the chance to kick out of the
wave immediately without being called interference when the priority surfer using their
right-of-way catches that wave, unless they hinder the scoring potential of the surfer
with right-of-way by any means. This includes excessive hassling, leg rope pulling or
breaking down a section or other applicable paddling interferences. If they continue to
ride the wave in any direction and they do not hinder the scoring potential of the surfer
with right-of-way, they will be scored a zero and the wave will count as one of their
maximum allowable rides but not as one of their scoring rides.
2. RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THREE & FOUR PERSON AND NON
PRIORITY ONE-ON-ONE HEATS
Wave possession or right-of-way in these situations will vary slightly under the following
categories, and is determined by the nature of the contest venue. Basically it is the
responsibility of the judge to determine which surfer has the inside position based on
whether the wave is a superior right or left, but never on which surfer is first to their feet.
Exception:
a. If at the initial point of takeoff neither the right nor left can be deemed superior, then
the right-of-way will go to the first surfer who makes a definite turn in their chosen
direction by “making an obvious right or left turn”.
b. Two peaks that eventually meet.
www.surfingaustralia.com
35